Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Tracy Straub's eyes shifted between witnesses on the stand, exhibits displayed on a TV screen and sign language interpreters as she sat in a Detroit courtroom.

The 45-year-old Trenton woman, who was born deaf, served as juror in an armed robbery case in Wayne County Circuit Court last month, welcoming the chance to be involved in the judicial system.

"I've got a lot of friends that are deaf and have never served jury duty before," Straub told the Free Press through an interpreter. "So I'm kind of the rock star in that way."

She watched as John Stuckless and Bethany James took turns signing the words of witnesses testifying in the trial of a person who was accused of robbing a man and being present when he was shot.

John Stuckless with University Translators signs for a juror in a trial at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit last month. He takes turns with another interpreter to sign the court proceedings.(Photo: Eric Seals Detroit Free Press)

The interpreters stood at the front of the courtroom, near the court reporter, for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Then they switched to prevent fatigue during testimony.

Her company, based in Ann Arbor, works with courts in Wayne and Washtenaw counties and provides American Sign Language interpreters for witnesses, plaintiffs, defendants and others in courtrooms. But it's rare to have a sign language interpreter for a juror.

Bethany James with University Translators signs for one of the jurors in a trial at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit last month. She takes turns with another interpreter to sign the court proceedings.(Photo: Eric Seals Detroit Free Press)

Finch said she has been in the business for 28 years and hasn't seen deaf people on juries until recently.

The State Court Administrative Office doesn't keep statistics on the number of accommodations requested so people with disabilities can serve on juries, and the courts pay for the services, said spokesman John Nevin. SCAO works with local courts so people with disabilities "have access to all aspects of the justice system," he said.

If jurors are summoned and have a disability, they can indicate they don't want to serve for that reason, said Jim Inloes, a management analyst for the State Court Administrative Office.

"When people want to serve, we want them to serve," he said.

Since 2012, four people requiring sign language interpreters have served on juries in Wayne County Circuit Court, two in the criminal division and two in the civil division, according to court records provided by executive court administrator Zenell Brown.

Straub said she learned more about how the legal system works during her jury experience. The panel of 12 started deliberating the case after two alternate jurors were chosen.

"I did have an interpreter there while we discussed and deliberated," Straub said. "The interpreter basically acts as my voice and my ears."

She said she didn't feel as if there was enough evidence to convict, and the jury returned its verdict: not guilty on all charges, including armed robbery, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault and felony firearm.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny presided over the trial and said the court is ready to accommodate any resident summoned for jury duty.

"We are very interested in making sure Wayne County residents participate in jury service," he said. "We are certainly willing to make the appropriate accommodations to ensure that everyone can in fact participate."

Unlike many who receive a summons, Straub wanted to be involved in the process. Last year, 86,863 jurors were ordered to report for jury in Wayne County and 51% failed to appear, court records show.

Straub hopes others will follow in her footsteps.

"If they can see that I can do it," she said. "Then they know that they can do it, too."